Why You Should Collect Oral Histories

So you don't lose your memories. Everyone should be taking steps to preserve their family histories. So much is lost when an elder person dies without leaving behind their hard won experiences and memories. For instance, the generation in their 80s and 90s lived in two tumultuous centuries. They rose to every challenge. They also carry knowledge of their kith and kin from even earlier times in the form of stories, songs, pictures, and memories of conversations with their own elders. Your children and grandchildren will want to know where they came from and someday it may turn out to be important that they know these histories. Oral Histories often impart valuable information such as inherited rights (e.g. Native American tribal membership) or predisposition to certain diseases that may become preventable in the future. As a visitor to the museum that I work in put it, "If you know where you came from, it's easier to figure out where you're going."

Who Are the "Witnesses" You Want to Interview?

Whose Life History you want to record is the first decision you must make. Be clear about why are you doing a Life or oral History. (Oral histories do not have to cover whole lives; they can cover a single event through the eyes of a witness.) For instance, if what you want to know more about is your family's origins or past, then you will want to interview the oldest member who is able or willing to talk about that past. Trust is very important to your success, so it helps if the person you want to interview already knows and trusts you. Make it a project you are working on together. They are helping you preserve history, and you are helping them pass along the wisdom of a lifetime.

The rights and feelings of the person you interview is paramount. You couldn't get this history without the person's cooperation. In return, you owe them every consideration. If they don't want a recorder (sound or video) then don't use one. NEVER record people without their knowledge and permission. Always let them know what you will be doing with the material you gather from them. Share it with them when you are finished. If you ever benefit monetarily from the project, it is ethical to share it with those who made it possible.